Around 100 people attended the evening, held at the Thirsty Crow on Thursday night, where proponents pitched their case to get the project off the ground.

The project’s campaign, on crowd-funding site Pozible, has so far raised $15,130 through 39 supporters at 3.45pm on Friday.

Gears and Beers organising committee chair Phillip McIntosh was the master of ceremonies for the night and told of his desire to see the rail trail get off the line for the benefit of the community.

“It is a legacy for future generations and we have an opportunity to make that happen,” Mr Mcintosh said.

“It is a trail for our children and for our grandchildren.

“It’s a real investment for the future of our city.”

The committee is hoping to raise the money by December 20.

Wagga Rail Trail committee chair Lisa Glastonbury said the night was a big success.

“We’ve had tremendous support,” Ms Glastonbury said.

“Some individuals donated $1000.”

While the target is $40,000, which would go towards paying for a design plan, Ms Glastonbury said if the campaign exceeded that number, all the money would be put into a “trail maintenance fund”.

“We’re reaching for the sky,” she said.

“It’s an ambitious target for an ambitious project.”

The Wagga Rail Trail will be a 21-kilometre sealed, shared recreation path connecting the visitors centre in the Wagga CBD with the Ladysmith Railway Station. 

The project is not without its detractors, though, with farmers along the disused rail corridor expressing concerns the trail would have an adverse effect on their livelihood.